I love cake mix cookies, especially in the RV. They are quick and easy to make and really good. You can turn pretty much any cake mix into a cookie. Some of my favorites are Red Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies and Easy Cake Mix Cookies.
Today’s cookies are born from a shopping mistake. First a little background. When we moved to Arizona, it was just the four of us. No family nearby for big birthday parties or celebrations so we started some new traditions. Birthday cakes in our house are chosen by the birthday boy, or girl for me. They usually aren’t fancy, most times a 13×9 cake with frosting piled high. Mark was eager to make my cake this year, really eager. I wanted something different this year, a pandemic birthday needed to be more than chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Hmmm, we hadn’t had pineapple upside down cake in years so that’s what I picked. He looked at me, scared asking if I really wanted him to tackle that.
No, no honey, you can buy the box. Little did I know that Betty Crocker doesn’t market it very well. If they do, they have it in so few stores that nobody can find it. Off Mark went to the store looking for something he would never be able to find and he came home with a box of pineapple cake. How in the world is the upside down cake kit not on store shelves but this is I’ll never know. We improvised and he made me a delicious pineapple upside down cake that was everything I wanted and more. I’m happy to report my grocery store had it back on their shelves! I wonder if it’s a summer only thing now. Us poor people with December birthdays get the shaft again. I kid.
This box has been in our pantry for almost six months taunting me. I’m still here! Why haven’t you used me? It was past time for me to figure out something to make. I was perusing Pinterest on my phone while waiting for my cancer checkup appointment and a recipe for lemon cake mix cookies jumped out at me. After reading through it, I knew it would work for my lonely box of pineapple cake mix.
My cancer appointment went well, my cancer number is still 0.02 which is the lowest it can be.
As soon as I got home I pulled out some butter and cream cheese to soften. When they were ready, I put the powdered sugar into a flat bowl for rolling the cookie dough.
Put the cream cheese, butter, cake mix, egg and vanilla and mix until well combined. Dough will be thick and sticky.
Scoop dough and roll in the powdered sugar, place on cookie sheet. I like a 1-tablespoon sized scoop so I don’t feel guilty eating six cookies. If you want a bigger cookie, try a 1.5 or 2-tablespoon sized scoop.
Bake for 9-10 minutes at 350° until cookies are puffy and a little cracked. Cool completely.
They are really good just like this, I may have sampled a few while they were cooling. The glaze takes it over the top, like holy cow these are good over the top. It’s a sweet taste of summer all in one cookie.
To make the glaze, put cup of powdered sugar in a small bowl. Slowly add pineapple juice and stir until you get the consistency you want. I like to put the glaze in a pastry bag but, you can use a spoon to drizzle if you’d like. Try not to eat them all before the glaze is set.
Pineapple Cake Mix Cookies
Adapted from It’s Always Autumn
- 1 box pineapple cake mix
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar, divided
- Pineapple juice
- Preheat oven to 350°. Put 1/2 cup powdered sugar in a shallow bowl or small plate.
- Mix cake mix, cream cheese, butter, egg and vanilla with a hand mixer until well combined. Dough will be thick and sticky.
- Scoop dough, roll in powdered sugar and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes until pully and starting to crack. Cool completely.
- Put remaining powdered sugar in a small bowl. Slowly add pineapple juice and stir to reach desired consistency. Use a spoon or pastry bag to drizzle glaze on top of cookies.